Sal and Matt

[UR80sfan]

As mentioned on another post we have lead in the 2nd half in approximately 3/4 of our games and lost a lot of very close games, despite the fact we have been one of the worst rebounding teams in the NCAA. I find it amazing that St. Louis out rebounded us by 22 and we lost the game with only seconds remaining on the clock. We don't need to be a great rebounding team to win, we just can't completely suck.

Hopefully in the next 8 weeks we will add a rebounding stud to the team, but even if we don't I think both Sal and Matt will improve a lot heading into their sophomore year. They both have a lot of good basketball skills and just need to get stronger and gain confidence. There is going to be a battle to get minutes next year across at least 11 players (assuming we have 10 returning and at least one freshman), but I think both of these guys will see their minutes increase. When is the last time Richmond had 3 6-9 players or larger that could play?

 

[keefusb]

It doesn't matter how many tall players we have. There is no place for a "rebounding stud" in the CM system. Our players, big and small, literally run away from offensive rebounding opportunities, and have not ever been coached how to position and box out for defensive rebounds. As one poster recently said, it's like our players get tazed in practice for even thinking about rebounding.

The only way to change this is to change the system and we all know the only way to change the system is to change the coach.

#NoMoreMooneyTruthing

 

[ur2K]

There was a time we had TJ Cline and ANO and they weren’t played together.

 

[64Spider]

Can't remember a game that Golden and Grace where in together. Maybe we could have tried that when French was eating our lunch.
I always wonder why coaches (in basketball) don't insert new plays or defenses just for tournament games. It's done in football all the time. Are they saying that basketball players aren't smart enough to learn something different in a short time.

 

[Not-A-Homer]

As mentioned on another post we have lead in the 2nd half in approximately 3/4 of our games and lost a lot of very close games, despite the fact we have been one of the worst rebounding teams in the NCAA. I find it amazing that St. Louis out rebounded us by 22 and we lost the game with only seconds remaining on the clock. We don't need to be a great rebounding team to win, we just can't completely suck.

Hopefully in the next 8 weeks we will add a rebounding stud to the team, but even if we don't I think both Sal and Matt will improve a lot heading into their sophomore year. They both have a lot of good basketball skills and just need to get stronger and gain confidence. There is going to be a battle to get minutes next year across at least 11 players (assuming we have 10 returning and at least one freshman), but I think both of these guys will see their minutes increase. When is the last time Richmond had 3 6-9 players or larger that could play?

If this premise turned out to be true, it would cause problems because Mooney is one of the worst bench coaches in America. Player utilization (determining who should be on the floor when, AND situational rotation) has always been his greatest weakness.

 

[keefusb]

Are they saying that basketball players aren't smart enough to learn something different in a short time.

What we are saying is our coach isn't smart enough or flexible enough to change his system(s) even when it is patently obvious that it's not working. Plus, I don't understand why we are speculating about tall players not being on the floor at the same time. It doesn't matter how tall they are, or how many tall players we have, CM's system does not include rebounding as a Key Performance Indicator. In fact, all of our players run away from the basket after we shoot. Just watch some game footage.

#NoMoreMooneyTruthing

 

[64Spider]

Just watch some game footage.

I don't need to watch any reruns. Bad enough to watch live. My question was rhetorical anyway.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

There was a time we had TJ Cline and ANO and they weren’t played together.

How about DWill?

 

[MrTbone]

How about DWill?

DWill was only 6’6”. Loved what he brought early in his career here.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

DWill was only 6’6”. Loved what he brought early in his career here.

But he hit the boards

 

[ur2K]

Highest season average in rebounds for Williams was 5.6 pg.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/derrick-williams-3.html

 

[wr70beh]

Surprising that Grant has one of the highest per game average in rebounding in the Mooney era this year. TJ had 7.8 per game in 2016-17 and that's the highest.

 

[SpiderK]

Someone needs to give Sal and Matt all the Big Macs they can eat the next 6 months.

 

[nathanw19]

Someone needs to give Sal and Matt all the Big Macs they can eat the next 6 months.

Get them on whatever regime Khwan did over the summer on his way to Louisville.

 

[97spiderfan]

Someone needs to give Sal and Matt all the Big Macs they can eat the next 6 months.

Sal and Matt should't even be in the same thread. I think we have seen Grace's role and to me his upside is that of a "serviceable back-up" to Grant. Grace has shown to be a good passer and can hit the occassional 3 but he will be nothing more than a back-up player at an A-10 program.

Sal on the other hand has tremendous upside. There is a reason this kid was recruited by the likes of Seton Hall and Minnesota. He obviously need to put on some strength and I think is he has someone besides Mooney developing him, he could turn into a very good player for us.

 

[iSpider]

Sal and Matt should't even be in the same thread. I think we have seen Grace's role and to me his upside is that of a "serviceable back-up" to Grant. Grace has shown to be a good passer and can hit the occassional 3 but he will be nothing more than a back-up player at an A-10 program.

Sal on the other hand has tremendous upside. There is a reason this kid was recruited by the likes of Seton Hall and Minnesota. He obviously need to put on some strength and I think is he has someone besides Mooney developing him, he could turn into a very good player for us.

I respect your views, but I think that Matt may very well surprise you.

 

[spiderman]

I like Matt a lot. it can be difficult to recruit for a position right behind a superstar. either Grant's health scare was an advantage in landing Matt, or he was under-recruited, or he just wasn't that talented in high school but has come a long way. either way, it's nice to have him.

but he's behind Grant for 2 more years. do not expect them to play together. he's a very good backup until senior year.

 

[97spiderfan]

I respect your views, but I think that Matt may very well surprise you.

I hope I'm wrong as I always do when I don't like what I see from a player. I just don't see much there from Matt. He is slow, not particularly athletic, doesn't have much of an inside game, which for a center is problematic.

He is already more than I thought he would be though, given his lack of recruitment & Mooney's history of late signees with little recruitment background.

 

[MrTbone]

I hope I'm wrong as I always do when I don't like what I see from a player. I just don't see much there from Matt. He is slow, not particularly athletic, doesn't have much of an inside game, which for a center is problematic.

He is already more than I thought he would be though, given his lack of recruitment & Mooney's history of late signees with little recruitment background.

I like Grace. He rebounds reasonably well, can shoot an okay 3, and passes fairly well. He doesn't have much inside presence, but I suspect he's told to kickout and/or not post.

Not having any kind of legit backup C for the past three years may be lowering the bar but I'm happy with what Matt provides.

 

[Eight Legger]

Get them on whatever regime Khwan did over the summer on his way to Louisville.

I think it's called "being on a team with a chance to make the tournament." Not currently offered in Richmond, but check back at some later date and it may be in stock.